The winner for the Biggest 2020 Hero award goes to… Little Riot

It is fair to say that so many startups have used the year 2020 to really show how they can adapt and help and shine through, but for the Biggest 2020 Hero category this year there was one clear winner who really have done some amazing work in 2020 and through the COVID crisis, and that is Joanna Montgomery, Founder and CEO of Little Riot which develops connected products that enable human connection in an otherwise very digital world, such as the product Pillow Talk.

How to monetise your space in VR

Just as monetising mobile was the biggest opportunity of the previous decade, monetising the 3D worlds is the biggest opportunity of the next decade. It’s time to get onboard. From radio to telephone, TV to desktop computer and now mobile, the last 150 years have been filled with technological progress that has transformed our private and professional lives. Today, we are approaching another media transition: spatial computing – commonly known as immersive technology, XR or VR/AR.

Disrupting the agricultural industry

Enter Farm-Hand: a software startup revolutionising life for farmers in India by applying Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology to irrigation hardware.

Helping construction SMEs get back on their feet

Boris Johnson has announced a £12bn affordable homes programme, providing up to 180,000 new homes over eight years, a slight retraction on his original five year target. Alongside this pledge however, is a sweeping liberalisation of planning regulations, which the Government are quoting to be the most radical since the end of the Second World War.

Boost yourself and your startup with a lifetime of support

A call has been launched for applications to the Startup Leadership Program London 2021. The Startup Leadership Program (SLP) is a not-for-profit organisation which exists to support entrepreneurs on their path to success and make our world a better place. It is also part of the world’s largest network of entreprenuers!

New Lab by Transport for Wales Accelerator

Monday June 29 saw the Demo Day of the exciting first cohort of the innovation ‘Lab’ by Transport for Wales (TfW).

More tangible social impact and outcomes for communities post COVID

‘There is not a common, comprehensive definition of what counts as social value, to frame understanding, benchmarking or reporting, and aid comparison of tenders and to determine best practice. This has given rise to significant disparities in what counts as social value activities, and no requirement to focus on improving the wellbeing of those who are most disadvantaged.’

Quantum security company wins Bristol’s Tech-Xpo 2020

KETS Quantum Security, world leaders in integrated quantum cryptography hardware solutions, pitched against ten other start-ups from Bristol’s world-leading tech scene to win the ‘Best Elevator Pitch’ audience vote at Tuesday’s inaugural online version of SETsquared Bristol’s Tech-Xpo.

How to use COVID-19 redundancy to your advantage

Redundancy is not a modern phenomenon. Recessions date back to the year 1430 and at each occurrence, swathes of hard workers have lost their jobs.

Know your value and pick your price

So, you’re starting a business – you’re ready to go, you’re excited to start chasing clients, you get some enquiries, you convert those enquiries into leads and now it is time to turn those leads into clients – and ultimately, cash. But there’s a problem… what do you charge? 

Bulgaria’s knocking: there’s a new startup hub in town

The 23rd of June this year marked four years since the UK’s EU membership referendum, and the rest of 2020 will likely see some decisive action on the UK’s intention to leave the EU as a result. Much has been written over the last four years about the UK’s currently gilded status as the preeminent global hub for financial services and fintech, and the risks of the UK losing this status to another European competitor once Brexit happens.

On the lookout for innovative startups

Advanced Engineering is on the hunt for ground-breaking startups to showcase their latest products and inventions as part of its Enabling Innovation Zone. The show, which is the largest annual engineering event in the UK, will take place on 4th-5th November at the NEC, Birmingham, and will allow smaller enterprises to accelerate their growth by making the right connections in the world of advanced manufacturing and technology.

The three ways to identify your ideal client

Identifying your ideal client is one of the most difficult things, and yet the most important thing to do for your business. Before I start going into the how, let us spend a few minutes thinking about the why. Why does everybody bang on and on about this ideal client business!? Believe me I used to feel the same way. Then one day it clicked into place.

Helping businesses embrace the ‘new normal’

In April 2020, the UK’s Office for National Statistics revealed 49.2% of the UK’s workforce were operating remotely as a result of COVID-19.

Considering becoming a remote working business?

While more established businesses might be unnerved by the prospect of homeworking becoming the norm, startups are in the privileged position of being able to adapt to a ‘virtual’ workplace with relative ease.

Fellowship launched to tackle lack of diversity in Venture Capital

Global initiative building diversity within Venture Capital, Included VC has launched recruitment for its second annual fellowship. Included VC’s mission is to change the face of the VC industry, dramatically increasing diversity and maximising fund success by transforming networks, staff, dealflow and investments. 

Google announces support package for small businesses

Local businesses are core to our communities, but the impact of COVID-19 has been tough on business owners. As the UK steadily reopens its doors to businesses and people alike, Google has pledged to support small businesses across the country with a burgeoning package of products, tools and services to support the reopening and growth of British commerce.

Turning voice data into actionable insights for customer interactions

Speechmatics and Puzzel, European Contact Centre as a Service (CCaaS) provider, have partnered to transform customer experiences in contact centres through Puzzel’s Agent Assist technology.

Supporting small businesses in the construction industry

Sage has announced new updates to its Small Business Accounting Solution. Designed to support small businesses in the construction industry, the updates enable customers to manage their day-to-day accounting in the cloud, as well as comply with sector specific UK Government requirements for the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

Single parent business owners share their tips on setting up a business

New research by Hitachi Capital Business Finance has explored the challenges businesses led by single parents face. The research surveyed more than 300 single parent business owners asking about how they started their business, running their business day-to-day, and plans for the future. Their responses were benchmarked against a nat rep sample of 1,466 business owners.